Preselecting and shifting mechanism for sliding-gear transmissions



April 19, 1927.

PRESELECTING AND SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR SLIDING GEAR TRANSMISSIONS Filed Dec. 15, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1,625,188 .J. BLACKBURN April 19, 1927. I 1,625,188

J. BLACKBURN PRESELECTING AND SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR SLIDING GEAR TRANSMISSIONS Filed Da s. 15, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Arm Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JASPER BLACKBURN, OF WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI.

Application filed December 15, 1924. Serial No. 755,923.

My invention relates to improvements in preselecting and shifting mechanisms for sliding gear transmissions and has for its primary object a device operable from above the steering wheel of a motor vehicle whereby a predetermined speed may be preselected, said preselection being made independently of the shifting and at any time so that when a vehicle is traveling in high speed a preselection may be made for second or slow speed and the vehicle continue to travel in high until the operation of the shifting mechanism which will then shift the transmission into the preselected speed without any further adjustment by the operator.

A further object is to construct a preselecting and shifting mechanism for sliding gear transmissions in which the preselecting drums automatically return to their starting point as soon as the shift has been completed, and is then in position to be set for another preselection .without the necessity of first starting the motor vehicle. In other words, with my device it is possible to have the transmission shifted into one speed and set to preselect a second speed without first starting the vehicle in the first selected speed. This is impossible with sliding gear transmissions which compose the standard shift in the present motor vehicle, it being necessary to first start the vehicle in one speed and after traveling a distance to shift into another speed, no preselection, however, being possible, the selection and shifting being accomplished by one continuous movement of the shift lever.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a fragmental side elevation of a motor vehicle showing the transmission, steering mechanism with my improved selector and shifter attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the housing in which a part of the preselecting mechanism is contained;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the lower part of the housing showing the manner of mounting the same and the position of the various controls;

Fig. 7 is a fragmental vertical cross section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section of the drum which forms part of the preselecting mechanism Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the same;

F ig. 10 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmental section showing the manner of attaching the cable to the tube which extends through the steering column;

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the transmission housing showing the position of the various parts;

Fig. 13 is a fragmental section taken on the line 1313 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a top plan View of the transmis sion with the cover removed; and

Fig. 15 is a fragmental elevation of the front part of the transmission showing the manner of operating the preselecting mechanism.

In the construction of my device I employ a chassis frame 16 in which is carried the usual engine 18, the crank shaft of which is connected to the transmission'shaft 19 by means of the usual clutch, this clutch is not shown as its construction and operation is well known in the art and forms no part of my invention. The clutch is operated by means of the clutch pedal 20, 21 indicates the toe board and 22 the fioor board of an automobile. Supported by the toe board is a tube 23 through which extends a tube 2- The lower end of this tube extends into a housing 25 in which is contained the mechanism for operating the steering rods, this mechanism may be of any desired construction and varies in detail in various makes of vehicles.

Located within the tube 24'is a second tube 26 which extends entirely through the tube 24:37:1(1 has its lower end secured in a boss27, which boss is formed integral with the housing 25. The tube 26 is so secured in this boss as to prevent its turning. The upper end of the tube 24 is screw threaded as at 28 so as to receive a nut 29, this nut is for the purpose of securing the hub 30 of the steering wheel 31 to the tube 24 and also prevents the wheel from lifting. The hub 30 is also'secured to the tube 24 by means of a key 32 or other fastening means so that when the wheel is rotated the tube 24: will also have to turn. Located within the tube 26 are tubes 33 and 3 to which are attached ope 'ating; levers: 3i) and 3G, thee. leyera being for the control of the spark and :tuel. respect i rely.

Secured to the tube :26, adjaeent itn upper end. is a collar 37 which tits snugly within the lower end of the selector housing 38, the housing, howerer, extends sutlieiently below the eollar 37 so as to terminate 1n close proximity to the hub 30.

The housing 38 rovided with an open ing 39 in its side. whieh permits the passage of thelevere .2 and 36. The housing is hob lowand has its upper end closed by means of a eorer ell) adjacent the upper end of the housingia provided a proieetimr semi-eireular ehn nber -.ll,l1ai;'in;.;' tlat aides, and pro jeet-ingoutwardly trom the sides of this ehinnbeiaare boenes l2 and ii The boss t2 having an opening passing entirely therethroue'h. while the boss 43 is chambered no as taper-mil the shaft 7 to have bearing in both ho. es illhenhat t -l:-l;5lS provided with a,eounter-btwe 4-5 in whieh a spring- -16 is loo leth the springyis adapted to contact with the elosed portion of the bone l3 and have ateinleney to. force the pulley l7. which is carried by the shatt L la toward the boss 4-12, the purpose ()fflIlllh; wi l he explained in detaililater. (he pulley 4-? is secured to the shaft by means of a screw or other taetening: means 48. A portion ot the pulley is out aw; asat 49. which cut away portion is (lesie'nedto betilled in with a eegrnient 5t). 'llhiseutmvay portion for the purpose 0t securing one end of a cable or tlexilile member 51 to the drum. Tlhesegment being held in position by means ot a screw The periphery. of the drum is also grooved neat. 53 so as to term a gnideway for the flexible member-51. On opposite sides of the pulley are termed projeetions- 5t and 55 whieh are preferably in the term of rings and (auu-entrie with the axis ot the pulley. The proieetion, 571: has cut away portions SO as to term teeth 6. 57 and whieh have immined irear taeea and straight front taees. These projections are designed to come in eontaet.with a stop 59 located oirthe same side ot the housing as the boss T11R90 teeth are-denier d to hold the pulley 4:7 in proper p oeitionifor the various speeds; the tooth beine'ytor low speed the teeth 57 for internuuliate or second. and the tooth 5G tor higsgh speed. there in no tooth for the re verse. as .will be explained in detail later.

Thoprojeetion 55 is eut away at one point only eouiato form a tooth 60 this tooth is tith ljlltlfhtt) stop the pulley at saith a point thatthe transmieeioncan be shifted to neutr; l and in orderto prevent the neut :al poei on from operati continuously a spring aeueted dogz fil 1S employed. 'llhie dog is mounted in a hose 6:2,,and is prtnidecl with {HD0176titil1fi1lil10b (33. the knob 63 is proideil with projeetions (it which are designed to enter shallow ltT-L'QLLCF 65 Formed in the proieetimi 355 and hold the (log: in witlulrawn position. l hese n'o ie(-tioiis and shallow reeeuseu are tor the purpose o]? prorenting the knob from turning and cause the dog (it to oper: to aeeidentally. The projeetion (32 is also provided with deep retonnes (3-13 which permit the projections (let to enter therein and allow the dog 61 to be torreil inward by means ot a spring (37 a auliieient distance to come in eontaet with the tooth (it). The neutral position is prefer"- ably arranged to he midway between intenmediale and hisrh upeeda. although it may he so ponititmed as to eome between tirnt and internuulia or between first and reverae, this being; entirely optional. It may also, i t desired. plat-e a neutral lop between all ot the tr-.rions Pl0SClQ(IlllOll.. that is, between reverse and firet, between first and seeonth and betweensecond and third.

The flexible member or cable ably of short length and has tat-lied to bent over 5], is; pret'er its tree end ata tube 68. The end of the tube is as; at (if) lea *inn' a. passage otsutlieient size to permit the flexible member 51 to pass: theretlntnurh. The end of the flexible member is; seeured in a pine' 7) in any suitabe manner. either by lmottin g the end otthe member or by spreading" it and sob deringr the same therein.

The t'ihe GS is; provided 71 which permits the tree end of the flexible member to be inserted theretln'migh. and also permits the passage of the plug 70. After the plug in position. the tube maybe slightly rear of the lflflp so to prevent its shittil'ig', a ti er this the tree endjoit the flexible mem-- ber 51 is; pfaeed between the pulley 457 and the segmentitl whieh segment in then cared to the pulley by means ot the screw 59. The pulley et'i it: lso provided with a out away portion 72 so an to form a recess in whieh the tree end of the. cable or flexible member at 'an be secured. This may be done either by separating the strands of the cable and filling the spaces.between the st nude with so'der or by {trotting the table. Secured to the bones? 25 is a yoke Til whieh carries a sheave or grooved wheel. it,

around which a tlexible member T5 This.

passes. flexible member haa its one end seemed in the. tube 68 in any Rllli'tihh) manner. it desired. the tlenihle member T5 and lube (3J may be diepensed with and the member 5i continued down through the lube tl-land Passed around the sheave Tl. The flexib e member 75 then brought a round ae'eeoni'l ahzare 76.. preterahly :arried by the trame l6. and has ite tree end secured to a screw 78 on theendnt' which in seeuredaoturnbuckle it To the opposite end of this turnbHC'lElQ isa F-tCOlltlscrew 8t) which is pivotally attached to a raekSl, theraek 81 is sliddJly with an opening" flattened immediately to the to shafts 93 and 941-.

nee-ease carried in brackets 82 which are attached to the front of the transmission housing 83. The rack is provided with stops 8% and 85 which are designed tolimit its movement forward and backward, the backward movement of the rack being controlled by means of a coil spring 86. The rack 81 meshes with a gear 87 which is carried by a shaft 88 which is mounted longitudinally in the transmission housing 83. Slidably mounted on the shaft 88 are preselecting drums 89 and 90, these drums are slidably operated on the shaft by means of yokes 91 and 92 respectively, these yokes being in turn secured The forward ends of the shafts 93 and 9st are provided with gear teeth 95 which mesh with a gear 96. This gear is so arranged as to cause the rods 93 and 9 1 to move in opposite directions simultaneously. thus simultaneously moving the preselecting and shifting drums 89 and 90 to and from each other.

The shaft 9st projec's beyond the rear portion of the housing 83 and is provided on its end with a lug 97 which is designed to be contacted with by a dog or pawl 98 slidably carried in the bar 99, which bar in turn is slidably mounted on one side of the transmission housing. The dog 98 is held in operative position by means of a leaf spring 100 and is provided with a projecting pin 101 which is designed to contact with a withdrawing member 102 for the purpose of withdrawing the dog from contact with the lug 97 and permits the spring 103, which is attached to the'shaft 94-, to return the shaftto the position shown in Fig. 14. The spring 1041 is adapted to return the slide 99 to the position shown in Fig. 14. The free ends of the springs 103 and 104 may be attached to any suitable point on the frame of the car.

Pivotally attached to the frame 16 is a lever 105, the free end of this lever is adapted to be brought in contact with the slide 99 for the purpose of operating the same and causing the shafts 93 and 94 to reciprocate and thus accomplishing the shift. The leve 105 is operated by meansof a bar or rod 107 which is preferably attached to the clutch pedal so that the shifting will be accomplished simultaneously with the depression of the clutch pedal. The lever 10;) is, however, so arranged that it will not contactwith the slide 99 until the clutch has been disconnected. In other words, a certain amount of lost motion is provided for in the lever 105 to prevent any shifting taking place before the clutch has been disconnected.

Carried by the upper part ofthe housing 83 are bars 106 and 10':- on which are located slides 108 and 109, these slides are provided with forks 110 and 111 respectively, which in turn engage with recessed collars carried by the gears 112 and 113 respectively. These gears are slidably mounted on a spline-"l shaft 11 1, which shaft is mounted in the housing 83. The splined shaft has attached thereto a shaft 115 which in turn is counected to the propellor shaft by the usual universal coupling.

Formed integral with the shaft 19 is a gear 116 which in turn meshes with a gear 117 formed integral with the sleeve 118, this sleeve has also formed thereon gears 119 and 120. The gear 119 being for the intermediate speed and the gear 120 for the low speed, this gear also meshes with a gear 121 which in turn rotates the gear 122 and constitutes the reverse drive. The gears 117, 119 and 120 are carried by a counter-shaft 123. The gear 113 has formed thereon a collar 121 which is provided with intermediate gear teeth and which is adapted to fit over the gear 116 and constitutes the high speed or direct drive.

In the slides 108 and 109 are formed openings in which balls 125 are placed, these balls are of larger diameter than the thickness of the slides and are adapted to enter recesses 126 formed in'the side walls of the casing 83. The purposeof this is to permit the selecting and shifting sleeves 89 and 90 to pass these balls when the gears are in neutral position. In other words, the balls are permitted to enter the recesses 126 and thus allow the drums to pass by without imparting any movement to the slide. The drums 89 and 90 are each provided with a projection 127 and with a longitudinally extending recess 128, this recess is for the purpose of permitting the drums to pass by the balls 125 so that the slides may be operated.

The cover 129 is provided with a clownturned portion 130 which acts as a guide for the upper part of the slide 99 while the rib 131 acts as a guide for the lower edge.

The bars 106 and 107 are also provided with projections which form shoulders 132 and which limit the movement of the slides 108 and 109.

The operation of my device is as follows We will assume the transmission to be in neutral position. After the engine has been started the handle 133 carried by the shaft 14: is turned forward or toward the front of the machine until it is impossible to turn it any farther. It is then allowed to gradually go back until it stops, which will be when the tooth 58 comes in contact with the pin or stop 59, the slow speed has now been selected. In other words, the rack 81 has been pulled sufficiently far t0,.rotate the drum 90 so that the projection carried there,- by will contact with the slide 108. The clutch lever is now depressed at first movement tending to loosen or disengage the clutch, immediately after the clutch is plishing the shifting through the depression of the clutch pedal, I do not desire to limit myself thereto, as I may employ other means to operate the slide 99 Without departing from the spirit of my invention. Instead of using a cable for the flexible member 51 a chain or a Wire may be used, and as previously stated, a continuous flexible member may be employed instead of the tube 68.

The turn-buckle 79 is for the purpose of adjusting slack, should any occur through the stretching of the flexible member so that preselection can be always properly made. In this connection it might be necessary to place a mark on the rack 81 Which will indicate either low or intermediate speed in making this adjustment, because a full release will naturally preselect for high speed at a full pull in the opposite direction preselected for reverse. These preselection's being controlled by the pins 84 and the rotation of said shaft step by step in the opposite direction, a flexible member having one end secured to said shaft projecting from one end of the housing, a sliding member secured to the free end of said flexible member and adapted to be longitudinally moved in one direction by the rotation of said shaft, means for longitudinally moving said shaft for disengaging the same from the step by step rotating means, and means tending normally to move the sliding member in the opposite direction.

3. A device of the class described comprising a housing, a shaft carried by said housing and projecting from one side thereof, a pulley mounted on said shaft within the housing, a flexible member having one end secured to said pulley projecting from one end of said housing, means for Winding a predetermined amount of flexible member on said pulley, means for automatically on said pulley, a sli'ding member attached in the opposite end of said flexible n'iember and adapted for operation duringtliewinding and unwinding of the flexible *member, lneansattachmlto said sliding member and tending normally to unwind mid flekible 11'10111bi',:111d a stop located within Said lgezmes 'llOlISlIIQ'llllCl adapted for Contact with Said pulley forliiniting the amomit of flexible member umvouncl therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I have signed'n'ly mime to this specification.

JASPER BLACKBURN. 

